Prospect Info: 2023-24 Prospect Thread

[xECK29x]

This season I'll just update the first post each Monday instead of a copy/paste of a table each time.

+ = on IR or just hurt
# = season complete

PLAYER	POS	ACQUIRED	HFB RANK	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
William Dufour	RW	2020 round 5 #152	1	Bridgeport Islanders	52	15	10	25	29	-12
Samuel Bolduc	D	2019 round 2 #57	2	New York Islanders	33	1	2	3	6	-5
				Bridgeport Islanders	5	1	0	1	2	2
Matthew Maggio	RW	2022 round 5 #142	3	Bridgeport Islanders	58	16	9	25	20	-2
Simon Holmstrom	RW/LW	2019 round 1 #23	4	New York Islanders	72	14	9	23	14	-1
Danny Nelson #	C	2023 round 2 #49	5	Univ. of Notre Dame	30	9	14	23	32	5
				USA U20	7	1	1	2	0	4
Ruslan Iskhakov	C/LW	2018 round 2 #43	6	Bridgeport Islanders	67	17	31	48	30	-16
Tyce Thompson	RW	Trade		Utica Comets	15	0	5	5	12	4
				Bridgeport Islanders	47	3	10	13	54	-19
Calle Odelius	D	2022 round 2 #65	8	Djugardens IF	10	0	4	4	2	0
				Djugardens IF (Playoffs)	2	0	1	1	2	0
				Sweden U20	8	0	1	1	8	-
Robin Salo	D	2017 round 2 #46	9	Bridgeport Islanders	64	5	18	23	22	-12
Isaiah George	D	2022 round 4 #98	10	London Knights	68	6	24	30	54	26
				London (Playoffs)	4	1	2	3	0	5
Alex Jefferies	LW	2020 round 4 #121	11	Merrimack College	22	13	10	23	19	1
				Bridgeport Islanders	8	3	1	4	0	-1
Eetu Liukas	LW	2021 round 5 #157	12	Bridgeport Islanders	45	3	4	7	34	-13
Quinn Finley #	LW	2022 round 3 #78	13	Univ. of Wisconsin	35	9	6	15	16	4
				USA U20	7	1	1	2	0	2
Jesse Nurmi #	LW	2023 round 4 #113	14	KooKoo	19	0	2	2	2	-7
				KooKoo U20	6	4	4	8	0	-2
				Finland U20	6	0	2	2	0	-
Aleksi Malinen #	D	2021 round 6 #189	15T	JYP	15	0	2	2	0	-3
Zach Schulz #	D	2023 round 6 #177	HM1	Univ. of Wisconsin	33	2	4	6	6	4
Cameron Berg #	C	2021 round 4 #125	HM2	Univ. of North Dakota	40	20	17	37	8	7
Daylan Kuefler	LW	2022 round 6 #174	HM3	Worcester Railers	17	5	3	8	9	-4
				Bridgeport Islanders	19	3	3	6	37	-1
Aidan Fulp	D	UFA		Bridgeport Islanders	47	1	4	5	14	-19
Justin Gill	C	2023 round 5 #145		Baie-Comeau Drakkar	65	40	58	98	66	57
				Baie-Comeau (Playoffs)	4	3	4	7	2	4
Dennis Good Bogg #	D	2023 round 7 #209		AIK J20	18	1	4	5	45	-5
				AIK	10	0	1	1	0	1
				Vallentuna Hockey	7	0	1	1	10	-1
				Brodernas/Vasby	4	0	0	0	2	-2
				Östersunds IK	8	0	1	1	6	-4
				Östersunds IK (Playoffs)	1	0	0	0	0	0
Alexander Ljungkrantz #	LW/RW	2020 round 3 #90		Almtuna IS	44	20	12	32	8	-7
				Farjestad BK	8	0	0	0	0	-1
Travis Mitchell	D	UFA		Bridgeport Islanders	34	1	3	4	36	-6
Reece Newkirk	C	2019 round 5 #147		Bridgeport Islanders	15	1	2	3	2	1
				Worcester Railers	10	5	4	9	2	4
Matias Rajaniemi	D	2020 round 6 #183		SaiPa	53	0	8	8	18	-24
				Bridgeport Islanders	0	0	0	0	0	0
GOALIES					GP	GAA	SV%	SO	W-L-T
Tristan Lennox	G	2021 round 3 #93	15T	Worcester Railers	13	2.94	.909	0	5-6-1
Jakub Skarek	G	2018 round 3 #72		Bridgeport Islanders	34	3.15	.890	0	7-21-5
Henrik Tikkanen	G	2020 round 7 #214	Currently UFA	Bridgeport Islanders	16	2.17	.927	0	7-5-2
				Worcester Railers	18	3.25	.890	0	10-6-1

Click to read more...

 

[leeroggy]

Jesus, ALL of our prospects are off to slow starts! Come on boys!

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Jesus, ALL of our prospects are off to slow starts! Come on boys!

No wonder we're always near the bottom of the prospect rankings!

 

[BarzyClub]

Lou mentioned in his presser that Tikkanen will be one of 7 goalies in camp.

 

[MJF]

Lou mentioned in his presser that Tikkanen will be one of 7 goalies in camp.

3 pre-season games in the first week. That 7 goalie count will be trimmed by September 29th.

 

[xECK29x]

Lou mentioned in his presser that Tikkanen will be one of 7 goalies in camp.

We don't own his rights anymore so I'm not considering him a prospect. Probably just a try-out in the rookie camp.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

 

[Kevin27NYI]

We don't own his rights anymore so I'm not considering him a prospect. Probably just a try-out in the rookie camp.

I'd bet he has an AHL deal

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

We don't own his rights anymore so I'm not considering him a prospect. Probably just a try-out in the rookie camp.

Well, the Isles had already declined his rights before he even came over last season, when he was with the club on a two-way AHL/ECHL deal.

Something tells me he's still in the organizational plans. He's still just 22.

18-17-3 and .914 SV% last season for Worcester.

 

[xECK29x]

Well, the Isles had already declined his rights before he even came over last season, when he was with the club on a two-way AHL/ECHL deal.

Something tells me he's still in the organizational plans. He's still just 22.

18-17-3 and .914 SV% last season for Worcester.

It’s the ECHL, I wouldn’t get too excited.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

It’s the ECHL, I wouldn’t get too excited.

Who's getting excited?

I find info on him interesting because there was absolutely nothing about him throughout the offseason and his destination for this upcoming season wasn't even listed at eliteprospects. Considering the organization has five goalies under contract for three teams, his uncertain whereabouts raised curiosity.

I must suggest a caveat here with respect to guys who "just" play in the ECHL. Goalies are different. The ECHL serves as a spot for playing time. There are only so many minutes to hand out in the pro ranks. For a goalie, simply playing and seeing pucks (and hopefully a lot) is extremely important. And the added bonus of the ECHL is that team defense is generally quite lacking, so a goalie is subjected to a whole lot of precarious situations to weather through.

I did see this guy play for MoDo the season before and he had some very strong outings, so I would have been surprised if he just wasn't in the scene anymore.

 

[seafoam]

Appleby, Lennox, Skarek, and Tikkanen are likely your four minor leaguers.

I thought they would have brought in Halak on a PTO to just have a more experienced body at camp behind Sorokin and Varlamov.

 

[Osakahaus]

There we go

 

[BarzyClub]

I like that Lou has “ dangled the carrot” for Skarek ( and to a lesser extent, Lennox) for that 2B goalie spot behind Varly.

They’re going to need the backup to play 25-30 games in order to give Sorokin a rest. I don’t think Lou believes that the 35 yr old Varly is a lock to do that. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Skarek get in 5 games or so with the big club. That should lead to a more focused, consistent and motivated Skarek this year.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

No roster yet for the camp that opens today, eh?

***
Dunno if you guys saw this article yet: https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-y...-iskhakov-maggio-george-nelson-odelius-liukas

Just for clarity, the following is written about Liukas and it's contrary to my info:
>>>
Liukas is expected to play for Bridgeport this season after scoring 14 goals with nine assists in 58 games with HPK Hameenlinna.
<<<

He's on loan to HPK and scheduled to play Liiga this year.

In fact, I think there's a technicality in the NHL's agreement with European leagues (or directly with Finland's ice hockey association) that prohibits Liukas from coming over already this season.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I like that Lou has “ dangled the carrot” for Skarek ( and to a lesser extent, Lennox) for that 2B goalie spot behind Varly.

Not sure I'm following here?

As for Lennox, let's see him outshine Appleby and perhaps Tikkanen first. We can't forget that not only is it Lennox's first season out of juniors, but that he missed an ENTIRE season due to the pandemic and then was only a back-up the season thereafter.

They’re going to need the backup to play 25-30 games in order to give Sorokin a rest. I don’t think Lou believes that the 35 yr old Varly is a lock to do that. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Skarek get in 5 games or so with the big club. That should lead to a more focused, consistent and motivated Skarek this year.

Oh goodness, I think it's clear as day that they fully expect Varlamov to get in 30-35 games this season. In fact, he's now signed for what, 3 years? Or was it 4?

I don't think any organizational goalies have been given a carrot of any sort.

If anything, they've been shown that they can marinate until further notice.

 

[BarzyClub]

Not sure I'm following here?

As for Lennox, let's see him outshine Appleby and perhaps Tikkanen first. We can't forget that not only is it Lennox's first season out of juniors, but that he missed an ENTIRE season due to the pandemic and then was only a back-up the season thereafter.



Oh goodness, I think it's clear as day that they fully expect Varlamov to get in 30-35 games this season. In fact, he's now signed for what, 3 years? Or was it 4?

I don't think any organizational goalies have been given a carrot of any sort.

If anything, they've been shown that they can marinate until further notice.

Yup, 4 years… that deal had more to do with Sorokin than it did Varly. They want to keep Varly around (in any capacity )for as long as they can of it makes Sorokin happy.

Varly seems to have some nagging injury at some point each season. At his age, trying to stay limber and in shape and not playing all that much can become an issue.

Also, now that Schneider is out of the picture, Skarek knows he’s next man up which is even more motivating for him. No distractions/obstacles now for Skarek.

In general, I like the competition Lou’s created amongst Bridgeport and the older vets on the big club.

Agree about Lennox ,he needs time .

 

[leeroggy]

Not sure I'm following here?

As for Lennox, let's see him outshine Appleby and perhaps Tikkanen first. We can't forget that not only is it Lennox's first season out of juniors, but that he missed an ENTIRE season due to the pandemic and then was only a back-up the season thereafter.



Oh goodness, I think it's clear as day that they fully expect Varlamov to get in 30-35 games this season. In fact, he's now signed for what, 3 years? Or was it 4?

I don't think any organizational goalies have been given a carrot of any sort.

If anything, they've been shown that they can marinate until further notice.

Just kidding . . .

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Also, now that Schneider is out of the picture, Skarek knows he’s next man up which is even more motivating for him. No distractions/obstacles now for Skarek.

Ahhh, you're basically saying that Skarek doesn't have Schneider in front of him anymore and ipso facto, he can head into the season feeling like he really could be next on the totem pole if one of our Russians goes down?

He certainly would look like goaltender #3 at the pro level right now.

In general, I like the competition Lou’s created amongst Bridgeport and the older vets on the big club.

Agree about Lennox ,he needs time .

Sure hope someone steps up to the plate. Losing Schneider is pretty in light of the stats the others have put up in recent years. It could really become the achilles heel of the farm team.

 

[BarzyClub]

Ahhh, you're basically saying that Skarek doesn't have Schneider in front of him anymore and ipso facto, he can head into the season feeling like he really could be next on the totem pole if one of our Russians goes down?

He certainly would look like goaltender #3 at the pro level right now.



Sure hope someone steps up to the plate. Losing Schneider is pretty in light of the stats the others have put up in recent years. It could really become the achilles heel of the farm team.

I’m very curious to see what the change in coach does for the overall d and the netminders in BPT.

It was mind-boggling to me how the baby Isles have been so bad defensively over the last few years considering Lou preaches defense.

 

[doublechili]

I’m very curious to see what the change in coach does for the overall d and the netminders in BPT.

It was mind-boggling to me how the baby Isles have been so bad defensively over the last few years considering Lou preaches defense.

FWIW, almost to a man the players who had any NHL time last year had better +/- in the NHL than they did in the AHL (going by recollection though). So maybe they can play NHL defense, just not AHL defense.

 

[The Real JT]

Skarek will be 24 years old shortly after the season starts and it’s been 5 years since he was drafted.

He’s done absolutely nothing to suspect he’s a viable candidate to be a backup NHL goalie. In fact, he was below average in the AHL last year and arguably took a step backwards.

Goalies have up and down years so anything’s possible I suppose. I’m not betting on it.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I’m very curious to see what the change in coach does for the overall d and the netminders in BPT.

A new era, now that Thompson is out west.

It was mind-boggling to me how the baby Isles have been so bad defensively over the last few years considering Lou preaches defense.

There were a few nights there - perhaps a good dozen - where goaltending did them in.

But to be honest, Helgeson and LaDue are the big vets, both with their weaknesses. Then Cholowski, Hutton and Salo slide in with a fair portion of AHL experience. Sevigny will enter his sophomore season. Mitchell and Fulp are certainly not young, but first-year pros. Krygier is only older than Sevigny, but also a first-year guy.

With Skarek yet to post a GAA close to 3.00 (much less lower) and Lennox a pure pro rookie who could easily find himself in Worcester, gotta say that the team is looking very much like a squad that will allow quite a few goals against.

 

[leeroggy]

And right on cue . . .

William Dufour shows off skating skills Islanders rookie camp

When William Dufour sat down with his trainer at the start of the summer, one item was at the top of the agenda.

nypost.com

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Just for clarity, the following is written about Liukas and it's contrary to my info:
>>>
Liukas is expected to play for Bridgeport this season after scoring 14 goals with nine assists in 58 games with HPK Hameenlinna.
<<<

He's on loan to HPK and scheduled to play Liiga this year.

In fact, I think there's a technicality in the NHL's agreement with European leagues (or directly with Finland's ice hockey association) that prohibits Liukas from coming over already this season.

Well I'll be damned...